Foreign policy expert unpacks Ukraine crisis
Moriah Foundation and Foundation Circle members heard from award-winning Chinese Australian writer and foreign policy expert Dr Bobo Lo.
Moriah Foundation and Foundation Circle members heard from award-winning Chinese Australian writer and foreign policy expert Dr Bobo Lo at the annual Moriah Foundation Lowy Institute Dinner earlier this month.
A Lowy Institute nonresident fellow, Lo spoke with the institute’s executive director, Dr Michael Fullilove, about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its impact on global security at the event on June 2.
Fullilove provided an overview of the challenges the Australian government is facing, including dealing with the new international disorder. “In Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified, brutal invasion of Ukraine, we have perhaps the biggest discontinuity in the international system since the Second World War,” he said.
Lo explained that Putin wants to crush the idea of a sovereign independent Ukraine, revise the post-Cold War settlement in Europe and overturn any semblance of rules-based international order globally.
He expressed his surprise at the weakness of Russia’s military. “We always knew that Putin’s Russia was a dysfunctional state … that it was a country without mates with the arguable exception of China,” he said. He added he was also surprised by the strength of western unity, but questioned how resilient western solidarity will be in the face of soaring inflation and other urgent priorities.
Lo noted that Israel is treading a thin line, trying to sustain a pragmatic relationship with Putin’s Russia so it doesn’t disrupt Israel’s security. On the other hand, Israel has a flourishing democracy and believes in civilised behaviour and most Israelis condemn the invasion.
Lo said China was “trying to be as loud as possible about its support of Russia while doing as little as possible in terms of material assistance”.
“It has shown that this ‘no limits friendship’ is actually a friendship with very profound limitations,” he said.
Lo also answered questions about the impact of economic sanctions, NATO’s role, America’s likely involvement, life after the conflict, effectiveness of the information war, likelihood that Putin will use nuclear weapons and the effect of the diminishing morale among Russia’s soldiers and inner circle.
After thanking members for supporting the Moriah Foundation to assist as many children as possible to receive a Moriah education, foundation president Judy Lowy shared her reflections from her recent visit to Warsaw and Ukraine, and the incredible support the Jewish Agency is providing to the region.
“I felt such an overwhelming feeling of pride and admiration in seeing how Israel has responded to this terrible situation,” she said.
Learn more about the Moriah Foundation: rkassel@moriah.nsw.edu.au, themoriahfoundation.org.au
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